Chicken not making it up to perch

[UrbanChickenDiva]

Hello all! I have 4 9-week-old chicks, and they have all been outdoors since around 5 weeks old. For the last couple weeks, 3 of them make it up to the perch to roost at night, but one of them seems to not be able to make it up there. She looks up there and "cries", walks around as if she's going to attempt it, but she never makes it. I end up putting her up there, but only after letting her try for a bit. She's a Delaware, the others are other breeds - not sure if that makes a difference. Is this anything I should be concerned about or is this normal?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Some are slower to figure out how, she'll get it

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Put a lower perch below staggered sort of like a stadium seating approach. They hop low then hop higher.

 

[UrbanChickenDiva]

Put a lower perch below staggered sort of like a stadium seating approach. They hop low then hop higher.

I should have mentioned, I did try this. She still hasn't figured it out!

 

[rosemarythyme]

You could try a ramp if you have room. Even a simple one will do. I used to use a branch secured at an angle from the ground to the roost and the chicks would climb up and down to get to the roost.

 

[barred2rock]

I should have mentioned, I did try this. She still hasn't figured it out!

You might try to teaching her by giving her a roost just a few inches off the floor. That's how I taught my girls from day one. By two weeks they were roosting at 2' (during the day, wasn't until week 10 when they slept roosting). They now roost at about 4' without issue.

 

[UrbanChickenDiva]

Thanks all! Great tips, and I am glad to know it's fairly common!